Celtics - Heat ECF: What to Watch for from a Celtics/NBA Expert

Celtics and Heat face off in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four seasons. The Celtics have the talent, but the Heat have the culture, and though they may be an 8 seed, all of that gets thrown out this time of year... credit to me and B-Rider for not wanting to play them in the first round. Here are the matchups to look out for:

Robert Williams - Bam Adebayo

The Time Lord was in full form at the end of the Sixers series, starting for the first time all playoffs in Game 6 and made a HUGE contribution off the bat. That first 4.5 minutes was some of the best basketball the Celtics played all year (as a guy who watched every bounce of the ball). Adebayo inside a problem if he gets going... Jimmy is going to get his, but Williams needs to limit the damage internally for the Celtics. Will be a team effort with Al Horford, but he will be leading the charge. In the Time Lord we trust.

2. Max Strus - Marcus Smart

I am not the head coach of the Boston Celtics, but if I'm Joe Mazzulla, I get Smart up in this dude's business. If he gets going from 3, like he did in the '22 ECF, he is a problem, because that'll open up his ability to penetrate. If he can't, he's pedestrian and they'll be forced to rely on their bench more than they'd like. No Oladipo and no Herro is an advantage for the Celtics. Would rather have Jaylen on Gabe Vincent since he is less of a scoring threat, credit to the Heat for starting two undrafted guys in the NBA, unheard of value.

3. Kyle Lowry vs. Everybody

Kyle Lowry in the Heat uniform is dangerous. Those old Toronto teams he was on were always fun in the regular season but no real threat come playoff time, but Kyle Lowry with the Heat is a completely different ballgame. He very well could have averaged 5 ppg this year, I wouldn't know, but he is a real threat in this series. Kind of like how you'd much rather face a big name receiver in the playoffs for the Patriots back in the day... AJ Green or Andre Johnson was of little concern, but Doug Baldwin and Victor Cruz you wanted nothing to do with. Keep this man in check, don't let him push the pace in transition, and make him beat you with mid range or score at the rim. If he gets moving and facilitating in to Bam, not a good formula for the Celtics.

4. Al Horford - Kevin Love

Al Horford will suck on offense at least 2 of the 6 games this series will last (Celtics in 6) but will he be able to keep an old, beaten down, emotionally abused from Lebron Kevin Love in check on the defensive side of the ball? I think he will. Don't let him throw any long outlet passes to a streaking Jimmy Butler, keep him off the corner three, and you should be in good shape. Make him beat you like he's slightly fat Timberwolves Kevin Love and I give the defensive advantage to Horford.

If the Celtics take care of these matchups, the stars will take care of the rest. Coach Spoelstra will have a few tricks up his sleeve, and Mazzulla show inexperience at some point in this series, but the talent disparity is too much in favor of Boston. Celtics in 6, time to tip!